Elephant Trekking

what to tell you about Thailand well not sure really, if the weather was better it would be a fantastic place to be this is Bangkok by the way the first stop on our Asia tour when first arrive its ok raining but hot the flight in well let’s not mention it bumpy isn’t the word for it !!!

We had our welcome meeting which was good small group only 12 of us but a good bunch of people the guide was ok but this was his first tour with the company so a little shy but ok after we discuss what’s gonna happen of the next few days we head out to dinner which was good great local food and a few beers and a good laugh with the group until near the end of the meal we looked outside and the rain had stopped but the downstairs part of the restraunt was flooded, we all started laughing saying ok so we are sleeping here tonight then !!!! lol once we had paid the staff lined up chairs from one end of the restaurant to the other so we had to walk along the chairs was very funny once we got outside the road was flooded ankle deep maybe a little more and the paths so people took trainers off I had shoes on the pump kind I didn’t take them off they had to go in the bin but to be honest there was no way I was gonna walk through that water bare foot!!!! once we got to the main road it was ok wet but not flooded.

Sunday we went to visit the grand place temple and another temple it was good to see but feel like I’m all templed out after the amount we saw in China and I’m told there are a whole lot more to come. The day was good rained on and off but as a group we had a good time after the two temples we headed to the Khaosan Road the main back packers street of Bangkok where the shops and bars etc. are we had a good lunch with some of the group and then did some shopping replaced shoes that flooded with flip flops easy to dry when wet Lee got some too and got some linen trousers to be cool as its very humid here we got back to the hotel around 3pm I changed into the new trousers after a while I realized I was turning black the colour was coming out of them lol !!!!

We left the hotel at 5.30pm to head to next place chang mai we were supposed to take the sleeper train but because of the floods in north Thailand they closed and cancelled all the trains so we had to get a night bus got on and 8pm and off at 8.30am NOT FUN AT ALL !!!!!!
We had fun in Chang Mai Lee went on a 4 and a half hour bike tour around the city and got very wet because of course it RAINED I (Lucy) went on a Thai cooking class it was great fun and I was really surprise with what I managed to cook it tasted well nice I look forward to cooking it you guys when we get back!!!

early start the next day we left our hotel at 7am to head for next place the forms of different transport we are using to travel around is a good experience well that’s what I keep telling myself lee loves it he is like a big kid opening a fantastic new toy at Christmas unlike the other tours we have done where we travel on our own group bus this time so far it’s been public everything boat, tuk tuk, bus, coach, mini truck with seats in the back, motorbike with cage bolted on back with seats in urm so far i think that’s it but the plus side not accidents yet or lost bags so it’s all good !!!!!

so back to Tuesday we left at 7am had a 3 and a half hour coach trip and then got off for 45 mins toilet stop and lunch back on a different public bus for 2 and a half hours to the Laos border met with our new guide for Laos and made a short trip across the river on a canoe like boat to Laos paid to get visas then then checked into our Guest House for the night let’s say it was ok not great not really bad but ok the best bit was having a cold shower !!!!!!

Wednesday we are on a River boat heading to Pakbeng our next stop which takes 6 to 7 hours hence why I’m sitting here typing this load of nonsense properly when I read it back to pass the time away but today at least it’s not raining!!!! Our guide here tells us the weather from now on should be better as Laos and Vietnam don’t have the floods like Thailand.

On the way to Pakbeng we stop off at a local village this place really pulls your heart strings the way these people live is amazing know myself I wouldn’t last 24 hours there but they seem so happy the children there are so funny and seem to love it laughing and playing games was nice to see.

We arrived at Pakbeng at around 4.30pm got to our guest house left our bags and went for a walk around the town with the group and our guide, not a very big town at all only took 30 mins to walk around lol we walked through there night market very small selling food, veg’s etc…
After the walk around we headed for dinner was good local food and beer was nice after the meal the owner of the restaurant gave us a free shot of homemade whisky!!! 55 % very strong..

We then headed for a drink at the only bar in the town The Hive Bar turned out to be a great night playing drining games apart from Lee drinking too many cocktails and beer and having his head down the toilet when we got home !!! (not to mention picking up a stray dog as well when he got back to the guesthouse pissed).. Lucy didn't seem to be that impressed in fact her exact words were "Lee put the F**KING dog down"....

Next day back on the boat heading for Luang Prabang arrived there at around 4pm went to guest house these places are very basic clean ish but basic after changing and shower out we go for a walk around this town is a lot bigger walked through the night market quite big had a good look around then headed for group dinner had lovely meal Chicken Burger and CHIPS mmmm was lovely I’d had enough of rice and noddle’s it was nice to have chips lol.

Today (Friday) we went to see the Elephants Got to do a small trek on an Elephant and feed and swim with them But Me and Lee Didn’t go in the water with them after the first group went in the Elephants Pooped in the water that kinda of put us off lol but the whole experience was amazing the best part of the trip so far!!!

Tomorrow we go on a group hike for 3 hours to a Waterfall and we can go swimming there and then back to guest house that should be fun but we will see. Then Sunday we head off to Vang Vieng.. Lee is already decided because he had found out he can watch the footy (Man U v Man City) at the hotel!!!

Lots of Love
Lucy and Lee xxx

PS – Not able to get pics up as poor internet but will try as soon as possible..